Travis Decker, a man who stands accused of murdering his three young daughters, was captured on a Ring doorbell camera before allegedly committing the horrific act.
Paityn, nine, Evelyn, eight, and Olivia Decker, five, were reported missing on May 30 during a scheduled custody visit with their father, Travis Decker.
Their mother, Whitney Decker, became alarmed when he failed to return them home by 9:45PM.
“What prompted her to call us was that… he was late returning the girls and had not communicated to her that he was going to be late, which was his typical fashion and so this was out of the ordinary,” said Capt. Brian Chance, according to NBC4 Washington.
Just days later, the search ended in horror. The girls' bodies were found hidden down an embankment near Decker’s abandoned truck at Rock Island Campground, roughly 18 miles west of Leavenworth.
Decker’s white 2017 GMC Sierra was discovered with two bloody handprints on the back, along with car seats, food, blankets, and his wallet. Zip ties and plastic bags were found both in and around the vehicle, per Fox 13 Seattle.
According to court documents, the girls were found with plastic bags over their heads and signs of having been zip-tied. Preliminary investigations indicate the sisters most likely died from asphyxiation.
Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison stated at a press conference: “The girls are a motivating force for us” as authorities intensify the manhunt.
In a chilling new development, authorities released security footage of Decker approaching a stranger’s door in the days before the killings, per the New York Post.
He can be seen knocking, then strangely sliding his hand up and down the surface.
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that while the video was recorded prior to the girls’ deaths, it’s the most recent visual of Decker and could help narrow his location.
Two additional photos show the suspect with a bushy mustache, goatee, ponytail, and multiple tattoos on his arms.
Decker, 32, is described as 5'8", 190 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts.
Authorities have issued a strong warning to the public: “It is unknown if he is armed at this time but he should be considered dangerous and should not be contacted or approached.”
The U.S. Marshals Service has offered a $20,000 reward for any information leading to his arrest.
Decker served in the U.S. Army starting in 2012 before transferring to the Washington National Guard in 2021. He stopped attending mandatory drills a year ago and was in the process of being discharged.
Karina Shagren, spokesperson for the Washington Military Department, said Decker transitioned from full-time to part-time between 2023 and 2024 and eventually went absent from service.
He is believed to be highly skilled in outdoor survival. “We understand that at times, he would do caching… put some supplies out there, and has the ability and knowledge to survive for long periods of time,” said Sheriff Morrison.
Decker had been living out of his truck and was reportedly homeless at the time of the incident.
Court documents revealed he refused to sign a finalized parenting plan last year, which required him to seek mental health and anger-management counseling services he never pursued.
His ex-wife said their previous visitations had been smooth and described their divorce as civil. However, she recently informed police that Decker had begun experiencing mental health issues.
A GoFundMe that was launched to raise money for funeral expenses and provide support to the grieving mother has now raised over $788,000.